Infertility

The company generates three-quarters of its sales from the multiple-sclerosis medicine Rebif, which was first sold in 1998, and fertility drug Gonal-f, the first biological copy of a follicle-stimulating hormone, that was approved for sale in 1995.

Rebif faces competition from new oral treatments as well as Elan Corp.'s Tysabri, which may return to the market in coming months.

First Signal The announcement ``is a first signal the company is not up for sale,'' Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch analyst Bob Pooler said in a note to investors.

``The company will become more aggressive in strengthening its product portfolio to reduce the dependency on flagship MS treatment Rebif.'' The drugmaker has been buying products to revive growth and move into new disease areas such as oncology and dermatology.

It acquired rights to Genentech Inc.

and Xoma Ltd.'s psoriasis therapy Raptiva outside the U.S.

and Asia and experimental cancer drugs from companies including Genmab A/S and Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Some of the drugs the company bought as well as those it developed weren't successful.

Serono dropped the development of psoriasis treatment onercept and melanoma drug Canvaxin in April 2005 and The company had to pay $725 million last year to settle...

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